Page 21 of Her Desire (Pulse Medical #3)

GIANNA

G ianna stood just outside The Daily Grind.

She had never been more acutely aware of how she looked through a glass window than this very moment.

A tall, confident, forty-year-old pediatric surgeon capable of saving tiny lives.

Not that she felt like that at all. Instead, she’d adjusted the blouse tucked into her jeans for the hundredth time while she waited for her nerves to settle.

Nerves that seemed intent on twisting themselves into knots no matter how much she tried to talk herself down or take in deep, invigorating breaths.

She was about to meet Holly’s mother, and frankly, this wasn’t how she’d imagined the whole thing going down—especially at a café Gianna never would’ve chosen.

She was even surprised Holly had decided on it.

It was all mismatched chairs and tables, odd paintings on the walls, and statues of golden heads that felt more out of place than artistic.

But she had a feeling that was exactly why Holly had picked it.

This was a café where both Holly and her mother—who was probably more at ease with plants than anything considered artsy—could feel out of their depth. Level ground, so to speak.

“How are you feeling?” a voice came from behind her as Holly’s reflection joined beside her. Just like Gianna, who was all nerves and tight shoulders, Holly looked like she was either on the verge of fleeing or bursting into tears.

Gianna turned toward her. “I’m perfectly fine,” she said, forcing on her most convincing smile. “The question is, how are you doing?”

“I’m about to have lunch with my homophobic mother and tell her I’m…

well…” She cut herself off again, her face twisting into a panicked, frozen grimace as if she’d just realized she left the oven on.

Even Gianna felt a slight twinge of panic.

She had no idea Magda Lucas was a homophobe.

In their three years of friendship, Holly had never mentioned that her mother wouldn’t approve of Gianna’s lifestyle.

Gianna couldn’t help but lose her smile. But as much as she wanted to know more about that important detail, she knew that was a conversation for another time.

“Okay, so maybe you aren’t fine,” she said, stepping forward and reaching for Holly’s hand.

The anesthesiologist’s fingers were soft.

Nails short. And if the world stilled a beat, Gianna was pretty sure she’d feel them tremble.

“You know, you really don’t have to tell her just yet. You’ve got plenty of time to come out.”

She never thought she’d say that, especially since Gianna believed in sooner rather than later—except of course when it came to admitting her feelings to Holly.

That was the definition of later. Gianna had come out right after her first kiss with Rebecca Rigsby in college.

Her parents had been extremely great about it.

They’d each given her a hug and told her they had always known but were just waiting for her to say it out loud.

But everyone was different, with different ways of processing, different timelines, and different fears. Holly had to do what was right for her. Even if that meant telling her mother that she was a lesbian only a short time after admitting it to herself.

“I know,” Holly nodded. “But I think if I don’t do it now, I won’t ever do it. It’s not like I see my mother often. She’s always traveling to some botany conference or another and this just doesn’t seem like something to tell her over the phone?—”

Suddenly, Holly yanked her hand away as if she’d been electrocuted.

Gianna barely had time to process the sudden shift in the air when Holly gave her an apologetic look, mouthed sorry , and stepped past her toward someone. Without waiting, Gianna spun on the spot only to see Holly’s mother, or at least who she assumed was Magda, walk toward them.

For a second, it felt like the whole world went into slow motion, or maybe that was just Gianna’s nerves going into overdrive as she took in Holly’s mother, who was the spitting image of her, down to the pale blue eyes.

“I’m sorry I’m late,” Magda exclaimed while her heels clicked on the pavement.

“I got a little lost earlier but now I’m here, so it doesn’t matter.

” She pecked Holly on the cheek when she reached her and then flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder before smiling at her daughter.

A smile that quickly traveled to Gianna.

Gianna stood a little straighter. “It’s so nice to meet you, Mrs. Lucas.

” She stuck out her hand and nearly sighed in relief when Magda took it and gave a firm shake.

Gianna always liked people who gave firm handshakes.

It said a lot about them. Not that Magda was on her top list of most likable people.

Anyone with a negative attitude toward anything outside their narrow view of normal was someone to be handled carefully.

“You too,” Magda smiled coolly. “Holly’s told me a few things about you.”

“Hopefully only good things,” Gianna joked, then hated herself for saying the cheesiest line ever. She cringed inwardly and could feel the nerves bouncing off Holly beside her. Clearly, they were both nervous.

“It takes a certain someone to become a pediatric surgeon. Must be interesting and quite…” Magda paused for a second, seemingly to find the right words, “complicated considering just how fragile children can be.”

“Children are surprisingly resilient.”

“Resilient yes, but also unpredictable, I’m sure.” Magda eyed her carefully. “One minute they’re bouncing back and the next, they’re in serious danger.” She didn’t sound entirely sold on the idea of working with kids.

Not that Gianna was bothered by it.

“They can be,” she said. “But that’s what makes my job even more interesting.”

Holly’s mother gave her a small nod like she was cataloging the information, storing it for later.

“Should we go inside? I didn’t have time for breakfast, and I really do hope this place has something delightful for lunch.

” She eyed the restaurant through the window and Gianna was sure she witnessed Magda’s nose wrinkling in distaste.

Or maybe the nerves—though less now that the ice was broken—were making her see things.

“Yes,” Holly said, looking relieved to be moving.

They both followed Magda as she made her way toward the door. Gianna sent Holly a look that had the anesthesiologist shaking her head and mouthing, kill me quickly please.

Gianna couldn’t help but chuckle. Not that Magda noticed. She was already being guided by a waiter in a crop top and a nose ring to a small table in the corner.

Holly slid into the chair across from her mom, her posture too straight just like Magda’s, as if both of them were trying to maintain control over every single moment. It was clear Holly had inherited her mother’s perfectionist streak, at least without all the stiff edges.

“So, Holly tells me you’re in the city for a botany conference,” Gianna said, trying to push the conversation into safe territory, at least until Holly decided to trigger the grenade.

“Yes,” Magda replied. “I’ve been to a few of these over the years. It’s fascinating to see what research is going on in plant science. This year there’s a panel on drought-resistant cultivars and gene editing in orchids. Really quite thrilling if you’re into that thing.”

“Sounds fascinating,” Gianna agreed, though she wasn’t sure she’d survive a whole conference about plants. Her thumbs weren’t green enough.

“I know it’s not as exciting as medicine,” Magda added, just as the waiter arrived at the table with three glasses of water.

Gianna hadn’t heard Holly’s mom order anything when they arrived but then again, she’d been paying far too much attention to Holly at the time.

Holly, who was wearing dark denim jeans, a simple white T-shirt, and sandals.

Her hair hung in waves over her shoulders and on her neck was a thin gold chain.

She looked fucking beautiful and suddenly Gianna wanted to reach out, to kiss her.

But it wasn’t the time nor the place. Not with Magda sitting across from them.

“That’s not true, Mom,” Holly muttered once the waiter walked away with their actual drinks order. “It’s all relative, isn’t it? People have different interests. They might even grow to like something else when they get older. Something they never expected.”

Gianna knew exactly what Holly was trying to do—ease her mother in slowly, soften the edges of what she wanted to confess. It was like peeling a band-aid off millimeter by millimeter. Although, usually, ripping it off quickly was far less painful.

Not that Magda seemed to get the hint. “Well, I’ve always thought cardiothoracic surgery was where the real skill lies.

” She glanced over at Holly as if this was directed right at her, and then reached for her sweating glass of ice water.

“The intricacies of the heart, the stakes, it’s a far more rigorous field. ”

“Cardiothoracic surgery is definitely a demanding field,” Gianna said diplomatically.

“But I think it’s about where your heart is—no pun intended.

” She smiled and caught a glimpse of Holly, who was also smiling.

Heat rushed to her cheeks. She had the urge to fan her face.

Instead, she picked up her glass of water and downed half of it.

Magda’s lips tightened, clearly unsatisfied with the answer.

She pressed on. “Still, when you’re in a position like that, making real change…

People like Holly, well, they’re often stuck in the background.

Anesthesiology, while important, doesn’t seem like the place for someone who could be making more of an impact in this world. ”

The remark stung way more than Gianna expected. It wasn’t just the critique of Holly’s career, it was the implication that she wasn’t doing enough, when frankly, Holly was more than enough.